Breakdown of Nur der Tierpfleger hat den Käfig zu betreten.
haben
to have
nur
only
der Käfig
the cage
der Tierpfleger
the zookeeper
Questions & Answers about Nur der Tierpfleger hat den Käfig zu betreten.
Why use hat ... zu betreten instead of muss ... betreten?
The construction haben + zu + infinitive is a formal way to express a strong rule or obligation. While muss betreten (has to enter) means the same thing, hat ... zu betreten sounds more like an official command or strict regulation. It translates perfectly to the authoritative English structure "is to enter."
Why use betreten instead of eintreten or hineingehen for "to enter"?
Betreten specifically means to step onto or step into a defined space (like a room, lawn, or cage). It is a transitive verb, meaning it connects directly to a direct object (den Käfig). Words like hineingehen would require a preposition (like in den Käfig hineingehen). Furthermore, betreten is the standard formal verb used on official warning signs and rules.
Why is the cage in the accusative case (den Käfig)?
Because the verb betreten takes a direct object for the place being entered, that object must be in the accusative case. Since the German word for cage is masculine (der Käfig), the article changes to den.
How does the haben zu structure affect the sentence's word order compared to modal verbs?